side effect

[shocked60]

are the side effects any less if your viral load is low and minimal damage? I have been having anxiety problems over this and wake up shaking. I am now on anxiety meds and zoloft to even me out before I start meds in 4 days. I can't seem to get over fearing the worst

[pooh55811]

And Schocked

2nd part .....

So yes, if I had a moderate or severe rash, even a mild rash, I would take all three of them, the Hydroxizine pills, and the topical ointments. A good dermatologist will prescribe all 3. They usually know that a person with a drug reaction needs to get on top of the reaction immediately before it snowballs.

I am attaching a link to some photos of the rashes (mild, moderate, severe). My only disagreement with those photos and the recommendations, it that I think they are way too conservative, way too slow to treat the rash and to treat it aggressively.  Not treating or treating too conservatively is not in anyone's best interest. We have had members who had to quit treatment because their doctors did not properly manage their rashes and let them get out of control.

BTW, I started out using Benadryl and over the counter hydrocort. cream. That worked for 1 or 2 red bumps, but it was totally worthless when the rash took off.

The rash can take many forms. At its worse I had hives, confluent hives, hives piled on top of hives, little red bumps, big red bumps that were not hives, pinpoint sized bumps, large flat red placques, red skin.

Here are the photos:

http://www.incivek.com/hcp/assess-and-manage-rash

That was for Incivek, but the Ribavirin rashes look similar. Mine was/is a Ribavirin rash.

[pooh55811]

And Shocked

I have to post this in 2 posts so here goes ...

I did not know much when I started treatment lasr year. Now I have a lot more knowledge about Hep C and this treatment, including side effects. If I was doing treatment again (let's hope not, LOL), I would get on top of the rash immediately and hit it with all I could. I am not talking about 1 or 2 little bumps. But if there are more than one or two and they are spreading, then I would treat it aggressively.

The topicals, if strong enough, will eventually clear the area on which a person puts them, but it may take 3 -4 weeks or more. Plus, the rash just moves next door, where one has not been putting the steroid cream or ointment. Then you attack that area, but it moves again, next door. The topicals won't get rid of a mod. or severe rash. They will only get rid of the rash in the areas one puts the steroid. The rash is from a systemic drug reaction.The topicals work only on the skin. But the cause of the rash is still there, the drugs we are taking, and it is a systemic problem.

I was using the Fluocinonide ointment first. It helped some, but it did not get rid of it. Then I got the Hydroxyzine pills and it helped at a lower dose, but it was not effective in clearing up the rash and the itching until I was using it 50 mg every 6 hours along with the Fluocinonide ointment and the clobetesol solution.

[Redken98]

Pooh would you recommend using the topicals as well as the hydroxyzine when you first notice a rash?  I wrote down the oatmeal treatment just in case it happened on a weekend.  I'm going to ask for a rx just to have on hand.  That rash sounds like it could be brutal

[pooh55811]

From personal experience with a bad rash while on treatment, it would be my recommendation to get this rash under control ASAP. Hit it hard from several angles. These drug rashes have a major tendency to snow ball out of control. So getting the rash under control and then keeping it under control are extremely important.

I was on Incivek, Interferon, Ribavirin. I developed a bad rash about week 10. My doc ignored it. I finally demanded treatment for it but it still took several weeks/months to get it under totally control. That was mainly because they did not order the correct meds to begin with and/or they did not order a high enough dosage. once I got on the corrects meds and dosages, the rash was controlled. By the way, I found the over the counter meds totally useless.

Here is what I used: (all prescriptions)
Fuocinonide ointment (topical)
Clobetesol Solution (topical)
Hydroxyzine (Atarax) 50 mg every 6 hours (for rash and itching)

It is quite possible that the Desonide is not strong enough. The ointment I mentioned is a stronger topical, but a person needs a stronger topical io get the drug rash/reaction under control. The rash still never got under control until I was on the Hydoxyzine 50 mg every 6 hours. The Hydoxyzine is what made my rash turn the corner. I never had any problems taking the rash meds in conjunction with the Hep C meds. As far as I know, there are no contraindications for doing so, but check with your pharmacist if you are concerned. Many of us have been on Hydroxizide and steroid creams or ointments and have not had problems (that I know of) taking them together.

You need the Hep C meds if you are going to get rid of the virus. Therefore it is important that your doctor do everything possible to treat this rash aggressively and appropriately in order to get it under control so that you do not have to stop the meds early.

Best of luck.

[Star971]

I just started taking inc, peg, rib just this week. My 1st shot was this past thursday. It was very very scary even with the click pen. I have had minimal side effects. That I am grateful for and I hope that it stays the same way throughout the rest of my 12 weeks. I just joined this website and it has helped me out a lot. Just remember you can do this and everybody on here is here to help.

[Redken98]

I haven't started treatment yet.  I've been building my library with "what to do if"....scroll all the way down to a post made by floridian7.."rash on triple therapy"
A lot of info.  Once there, scroll down to orphaned hawks reply and read what he said about oatmeal.  I wrote it down because it sounded good to me and I have it on hand if needed...best of luck
Kellie